The American Film Institute (AFI) has a newly formed AFI Alumni Council, an advisory group of AFI alumni that will guide career development and community engagement for AFI alumni and provide leadership to galvanize AFI filmmakers across the industry to work together to affect change. The establishment of the Alumni Council is yet another step in improving the post-graduate experience for AFI alumni by the recently funded Lawrence Herbert Alumni Center (LHAC).
“We are so grateful for the extraordinary vision, commitment and sense of pride that this group of Alumni have for their fellow AFI filmmakers and the future of the art form,” said Susan Ruskin, dean, AFI Conservatory and executive VP of AFI. “We look forward to the impact that their advocacy will certainly have on our alumni community.”
The founding AFI Alumni Council members are: Marshall Herskovitz (chair, AFI class of 1975, Blood Diamond, Traffic), Deniese Davis (AFI class of 2012, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Insecure), Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (AFI class of 1995, American Horror Story, Me And Earl And The Dying Girl), Mel Jones (AFI class of 2010, Dear White People, Really Love), Unjoo Moon (AFI class of 1998, I Am Woman, The Zen Of Bennett), Brian Udovich (AFI class of 2004, Dimension 404, The Wackness) and Ford Motor Co. global brand entertainment head Alessandro Uzielli (AFI class of 1989, Casino Royale, Men In Black 3).
“The driving force at the AFI Conservatory has always been the sense of community and the power of collaboration. That philosophy is what makes AFI and its alumni stand out,” said Marshall Herskovitz, founding chair of the AFI Alumni Council. “I’m honored to be working with the peerless talent on this Alumni Council to foster that same sense of community and support for all alumni who are succeeding in telling their stories beyond the halls of AFI.”
The Council is the latest in a series of advancements from the LHAC, whose programs provide career development resources, engage AFI’s powerful network of mentors and champion the ongoing global accomplishments of AFI alumni. In addition to advising LHAC on programming priorities, the Council will support the Bridge to the Future Initiative which connects recent graduates with career opportunities in film, television, streaming and new media, creating new pathways for AFI filmmakers to share their stories.
